Its price (ranging from Rs1.62million to Rs.1.675million) is perhaps its weapon of choice (as with all Suzuki models) with its competing Mitsubishi’s L300 price ranging between Rs.1.999million to Rs.2.349million & the more popular Hiace retailing between Rs.2.499million & Rs.3.199million.

Moreover its smaller overall & engine size makes it more economical & easier to navigate on narrow inner-city roads found in all the major cities of Pakistan. Engine dispalcement of APV is 1493cc compared to L300′s 2477cc & Hiace’s 1593cc.  Overall length of APV is 4.23m much less than L300′s 4.59m (STD) & 4.81m (DX). Although both claim a min. turning radius of 4.9m APV can even part where L300 won’t (even with bumpers removed).

Fuel tank of L300 is slightly bigger 55L compared with APV’s 47L so is the seating capacity (L300:12; APV:8) but the size of fuel tank does not come as an advantage while within the urban areas & in Pakistan seating capacity is hardly what is written in the brochure.

The only thing the car isn’t good for is what it is actually advertised for: accomodating large-joint families because Suzuki’s own BOLAN beats APV in all categories (price, fuel efficiency & mobility) except comfort. But when the whole family travels together who needs comfort; all we need is to get wherever we are going fast to avoid verbal skirmishes.

Toyota developed Vitz (aka Yaris) & Platz (aka Echo) initially for sale/use in European & Japanese markets. However, just because they are cheaper (to buy) many of my local brethren have fallen ‘prey’ to dubious dealers selling Vitz & Platz (mostly re-conditioned ones) as Japanese assembled “A-Category” automobiles.

During the course of my research I came across an article by an American ex-pat, Heather Carriero currently teaching in Pakistan who has a self-described ‘unquenchable” thirst for travel, adventure & new challenges.

Her article cites the cars’  low clearance, non-compatibility with CNG kits & overall poor quality of fuel in Pakistan as the most daunting problems faced by these foreign-assembled cars.

You can read more of her article at the link given below:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1057526/warning_buying_and_driving_a_toyota.html?cat=27

Heather’s VERDICT: Would love to buy, own & use both in Japan but they are just not suitable to the environment of the subcontinent.

Your VERDICT: ???

Although most of us grew up or around Suzuki manufactured vehicles but ever since other Japanese carmakers (Honda, Toyota & Nissan) set-up their car-assembly units we have come to look down upon Suzuki vehicles with a high degree of disdain.

Suzuki has never tried to allay this impression and we have made it out into some sort of a firm belief. Now with new inductions and elimination of ‘failed’ brands Suzuki maybe out to set things right but is it too late, only time will tell.

Let us examine what it calls Life In A New Age (or LIANA for short). Suzuki’s Liana is the shortest of all sedans with a length of 4.35m from bumper-to-bumper slightly shorter even than Honda’s CITY (4.395m) and comes in three variants: The basic RXI, slightly luxuries LXI & top-of-the-line EMINENT.

Suzuki knowing well their ‘thrift-conscious’ clientele have factory fitted the RXI & LXI with CNG which are available as an option only. With EMINENT SUzuki appears to be attempting to play ‘cach-up’ with the CITY since even their prices have a less than Rs.0.100million difference (some might say its a ‘wannabe’ CITY).

Shiny, metallic interior is complimented by the new chrome front-grill & alloy tyre-rims which are again an option only. With new fog lamps added to suit the needs of up-country Pakistani clients & a new ‘sparkling’ tail-light Liana seems to scream ‘look at me, I am a sedan too’.

The only feature other than the factory-fit 60L CNG cylinder (Petrol tank holds max. 50L fuel) that I really like is the key-less entry buttons (placed on the key itself they may look tachy but are functional to say the least). Here Suzuki has taken a leaf out of the Mitsubishi Lancer’s manual which has the same option in all its new models.

This is all there is to a Liana so now Suzuki Liana ke na Liana “Bring it (home) or don’t” is up to you and your pocket’s liking.

Although the sales figures suggest that Accord has been outselling Camry looking at their specs the reason isn’t clear. Both have identical 70-litre fuel tanks, near-identical engine displacements (Accord:2354cc & Camry:2362cc) and similar Torque Ratios: 226Nm/4300rpm for Accord while for Camry it is 224Nm/6000rpm.

Top speed of Camry is listed on Toyota Indus Motors (www.indus-motors.com.pk) as 211kph for Manual Transmission version and 204kph for Automatic Transmission. Honda Pakistan (www.honda.com.pk) being more concerned with Safety & Environment hasn’t listed a top speed instead it focuses on the safety / environment-friendly features of the car.

Finally as always it all boils down to the physical ‘looks’ of the car & price of both cars. In that department Accord having a more sleek/elegant & less ‘bulky’ design that Camry (see photos for evidence) wins’ hearts & minds’ of the customer hands-down.

The other factor helping customers decide in favour of Accord is the price tag Rs.4.699M (for A/T) while Camry retails for Rs.5.999M (M/T) to Rs.6.199M (A/T).

Got the pictures and the owner has agreed to give a detailed review of Land Cruiser Prado. As the review is on the way, I would like to share a nice little feature that is found in this 4×4: The camera that gives a detailed view of the surroundings at the back of the Prado.

When you put the vehicle in reverse, the display inside the car automatically shows the view:

When you put the car in reverse, the screen switches to the camera at the back of the car.

But the real clever bit is the use of simple and easy to understand lines that show the expected path of the vehicle depending on which way you turn the wheels!

close up of the screen with a neat overlay of lines showing the expected path of the vehicle

You turn the wheels a certain way, and the yellow lines will adjust accordingly, showing you the expected path of the vehicle. As you can see, I am right now reversing into the gate.

No more neck twisting, left-arm-behind-passenger-seat type of reversing. This makes your driving experience a tad more pleasurable – and in today’s high end cars, it is the little things that make the biggest difference, no?

Basic Info:

Car Name: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Model: 2003

Registered: 2004

Price: PKR 3.5 Million

Color: Silver

P.S. I will be uploading the pictures as soon as I get the review in place, God willing.

Cars (and vehicles in general) are rightly considered to be one of the biggest constributors to global warming and a general decline in the environment. The fuel that they burn leaves gases that harm the planet (including us!).

The above is a fact that no sane person can deny*. Hence the build up of interest in greener cars. Thanks to advocates like Al Gore, people are warming up (no pun intended) to the idea of global warming being a menace created by humans and most importantly, a meance that can be controlled. One of the most powerful moments in Al Gore’s award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth is when he compares the rising auto industry of Japan to the dwindling auto industry of North America. Japanese are way, way ahead in terms of producing cars that not only are easy on the environment, but serve a growing and close-knit market of self-aware, caring individuals.

Toyota has been making Prius since forever it seems! Honda has caught up with their Honda FCX Clarity.

Honda’s FCX Clarity (set to be released in the US Both cars are more pleasing to the eye, and both car companies are from Japan. The eco-aware North American and European consumers are left with little choice but to go for the Japanese cars. Of course, nothing wrong with that. US Presedient Elect Obama’s car is a hybrid and environment is on his agenda.

It will be interesting to see how these two companies inspire (out of sheer business competition, if nothing else) other car companies to start producing responsible cars. It now makes business sense to go green and this early in the game, will almost always prove to be a unique selling point.

Know more

• Check out more details on Honda FCX Clarity (LINK)
• You may read up more on Honda FCX’s technology news (LINK)
• Check out the new Honda hybrid set to be released in 2009 (LINK)

*The exact implications of global warming, also implied in Al Gore’s documentary, are still debated. An instance of such debate can be found in Michael Crichton novel ‘State of Fear’ where the pro global warming argument is debated against.

Here in Pakistan, one of the best things about importing cars seems to be not the red ferarri you sometimes see on the streets of Lahore, but the car for the people, Toyota Vitz!

Now, this is a great car. I have talked to at leas three owners of this sharply round car and all three did not have good things to say about the car; they had great things to say about it!

Toyota Vitz (also marketed by Toyoto as Yaris in countries like Australia) is a small car, a direct comptitor to Suzuki’s Cultus (I do not have good things to say about the pathtetic excuse for a car in the form of Cultus, I just hope Suzuki gifts us the highly cool Swift!). Anyways, Toyota Vitz is small and that is where the goodness starts.

It is highly fuel efficient. The engine seems to be built for CNG as all the three owners I talked to had CNG-fitted Vitz. One of them insisted I drive the car to see that the CNG does not affect the car’s pick up! Compare that with the folks at Honda showrooms ‘encouraging’ people NOT to use CNG in Honda cars. (That is another story waiting to be told here at Car Advice, for updates please subscribe! ).

Vitz comes in 3 and 5 door varities with 1300 and 1500 CC engines. Some models also come with a 1500 CC engine though I have not heard of this model in Pakistan. (Have you? Let us know in the comments please). If you are considering to buy Toyota Vitz then I must tell you my friend, the car has no competition. Seeing the newer models of the car (especially the three door Vitz) is really a cool thing to see. Stuck like lemmings in shiny metal boxes, a red Vitz next to you can perhaps make you a tad more comfortable. (Or perhaps I am stretching this a bit too far? Hmmm).

The prices for Vitz have been fluctuating, ranging from 6 lacs all the way up to 9 lacs (in part, thanks to the ‘fluctuating’ conditions of the Pakistani economy). The banks will not loan any car that is more than 5 years old, so this means Vitz with models as new as 2008 running the streets of Pakistan, one can easily get the car leased as well. (And then get crunched by credit perhaps? :/ )

The pick up is great, fuel economy is what Vitz owners rave about, the shape (especially of the newer ones) is way above average, the engine is tough and takes CNG like a hand to a glove, the parts are available in the market, has signigicant resale value (if you plan to sell it; the three owners, all of them were intent on keeping the car indefinitely!). If you are in the market for a car in this category, think about it, what will you buy instead? A Cultus? Please!

—

P.S. For more pictures and history and information about this car, check out the Wikipedia page. Image coutesy of Wikipedia (the car is parked not anywhere in Pakistan that I know ).

When it comes to cars, CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas.

CNG could also mean saving worth thousands of rupees per month. It can also mean that you have something to show for after watching An Inconvenient Truth . Although not many (hardly any!) people here in Pakistan are concerned about their carbon foot print, there are many who would love to save. This little article gives you the low down on CNG for your car, answering questions about CNG safety (exploding cars?!?!) and engine life.

Fuel Savings: It is by all means a great way to save on fuel, given that the fuel prices in Pakistan are rising. A friend of mine, living in Gujranwala, has a Toyota Vitz 2002 on CNG; he is getting Rs 2 to a liter. That is unheard of for petrol as anyone who has done the calculations would know. Would know by heart!

CNG and car performance: Yes, your car will not have the same pick with CNG that it has with Petrol. I used to own a Suzuki Mehran with CNG and the car would actually refuse to go above 90 Kmh when on CNG. On petrol, the car would be flying at 120 (for a Mehran, 120 is definitely ‘flying’!). A friend has a CNG fitted Honda Civic 2001, and the difference in the car’s acceleration is actually quite insignificant; I had to ask him that if the car is on CNG or not, I could not tell while we drove around Lahore. A car engine above 1300 CC will not let you feel the difference between CNG and Petrol, whereas for below 1300 CC, the difference is more in top speed than in pick/acceleration. If you do face drawn out acceleration when on CNG, it is probably because your engine needs some cleanup; oil change, oil and/or air filter replacement etc.

CNG and Engine Life: Getting CNG for your car does NOT affect your engine and does NOT reduce its life in a worrisome way.  People in opposition of CNG, do say that ‘Engine life gets reduced from 20 to 15 years after putting in CNG,’ as if they have done the calculations. I would save enough in those 15 years to buy two more cars, and that is the main point of getting CNG; cost savings.

CNG and types of cars: CNG can be fitted in any car that is being driven on the roads of Lahore. I have seen Toyota Land Cruisers on CNG and do plan to put up pictures of a Cruiser that I saw with four cylinders fitted at the back. Mostly people are of the opinion that only Petrol cars can be kitted out with CNG; a modified diesel engine can be converted to CNG. Although I have not heard of such a ‘conversion’, in theory at least CNG and Diesel go good together.

The CNG ‘threat’:There has been incidents of car CNG cylinders exploding. Now this is dangerous. But how real is the threat? As long as your CNG tank is inspected at least after every 5 years (look for an approval stamp sticker), you are good to go. The problem of exploding CNG tanks is due to cheap material being used while fabricating the tank. CNG tanks that do not pass quality standards is not a ‘good-thing-to-have’, it is a must. Make sure you ask for a quality stamp from the workshop, and also know that CNG tanks do not explode; it is so rare that God willing, it will probably never happen if you take the above mentioned precautions.

As the gas, inherently, is compressed, that automatically poses a greater risk than Petrol, which just ‘lies’ in the car petrol tank. So the quality of the car’s CNG tank can not be overstressed; make sure you get the best.

For the nitty-gritty on CNG technology, please check out the CNG page at caradvice.pk’s technology pages. (as per plan, this is where different car technologies will be explained, God willing ).